Court highlights deep-rooted societal preference for male child as one-month-old girl drowned by family members; bail plea of grandfather denied
In a significant judgment delivered on September 9, 2026, the Bombay High Court (Nagpur Bench) rejected the bail application of Gopinath Janku Pradhan, who was accused of the brutal killing of his one-month-old granddaughter. The case, registered as Crime No.253/2023 at Desaiganj police station, Gadchiroli, involves charges under Sections 302 (murder), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence), read with Section 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.
The incident came to light following a complaint by an Aasha worker, who suspected foul play when the infant was found drowned in a tub in the family's house, with a brick placed on her back to prevent movement. The postmortem report confirmed the cause of death as "asphyxia due to drowning." The FIR alleged that the grandfather, in collusion with other family members, killed the child because she was the second female child, reflecting a preference for a male heir.
The applicant's counsel argued that there was no direct evidence implicating him in the murder, highlighting that the mother of the deceased had already been granted bail and asserting parity. However, the public prosecutor vehemently opposed bail, emphasizing the heinous nature of the crime and the applicant's suspicious conduct, as the infant's death occurred within his house and under his watch.
Justice M.M. Nerlikar, after considering the facts and submissions, expressed deep regret that even after 80 years of independence, gender bias leading to such brutal acts persists in society. The court noted that the accused had attempted to mislead authorities by creating a false narrative of the child being taken by an animal, and that the family had conducted a hurried cremation, arousing further suspicion.
Given the gravity of the offense, the applicant's presence at the scene, and the collective conduct of the accused, the court declined to grant bail. The judgment underscores the judiciary's stern stance against crimes motivated by gender discrimination and serves as a reminder of the ongoing social challenge of valuing female children equally.
Bottom Line:
Bail application rejected in a case involving the heinous crime of killing a one-month-old girl child due to gender preference, reflecting deeply entrenched gender bias in society.
Statutory provision(s): Indian Penal Code, 1860 Sections 302, 201, 34
Gopinath Janku Pradhan v. State of Maharashtra, (Bombay)(Nagpur Bench) : Law Finder Doc Id # 2980655
